UK Immigration Crackdown Threatens 15 Billion Pound Care Sector
The British government faces warnings of business closures after suspending the Health and Care Visa scheme and proposing stricter residency requirements for migrant care workers.
The Government of the United Kingdom has implemented an immigration crackdown that threatens the stability of the country's 15 billion pound adult care sector. The Labour government suspended the Health and Care Visa scheme due to abuse concerns and proposed that current visa holders transition to the Skilled Worker route by July 2028. Care providers warn that local authority funding is insufficient to cover the higher salaries required by the Skilled Worker route, which could lead to widespread business closures.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood further proposed extending the qualifying period for permanent residency from five to 10 years. This change would potentially block workers recruited in 2022 and 2023 from securing settlement. The sector relies on migrant workers for roughly one-third of its workforce to support over 650,000 vulnerable people.
Internal government pressure is mounting as more than 100 Labour parliamentarians have urged a reconsideration of these reforms. Prime Minister Andy Burnham is reportedly considering exemptions for care workers to mitigate the impact on the industry.
